Belinda Bencic Dominates Katie Boulter In Australian Open Return

Belinda Bencic showcased her formidable form at the Australian Open on January 20, 2026, dispatching Britain’s Katie Boulter 6-0, 7-5 in a match that highlighted both her recent resurgence and Boulter’s fighting spirit. The first-round clash on Margaret Court Arena may have ended in straight sets, but the story was far richer than the scoreline suggests.

Coming into the tournament, Bencic was riding a wave of momentum. The Swiss star, seeded No. 10, had just been crowned MVP at the season-opening United Cup, where she helped Switzerland reach the final by winning all five of her singles matches—including marquee victories over world No. 2 Iga Swiatek and Italian No. 1 Jasmine Paolini. That confidence was evident from the first ball, as she raced through the opening set in just 26 minutes, leaving Boulter searching for answers.

Boulter, meanwhile, entered the 2026 Australian Open with modest expectations. After a challenging 2025 season that saw her ranking drop outside the world’s top 100, she only made the main draw thanks to late withdrawals. The 29-year-old Brit had also recently made a significant change to her team, hiring Michael Joyce—best known for coaching Maria Sharapova during her Grand Slam-winning years—as her new coach. In her own words before the match, Boulter was candid about the challenge ahead: “I'm just going to go out and swing. I really don't think there's any pressure. I don't think there's anyone in this room that thinks I'm going to win that match.”

The first set played out true to those expectations. Bencic’s aggressive, early ball-striking and ability to redirect pace left Boulter on the back foot. The Swiss broke at will, exploiting Boulter’s heavy footwork and racing to a 6-0 lead. Yet, despite the bagel, Boulter refused to fold. With her fiancé, Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur, watching courtside and the crowd chanting “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,” she regrouped at the set break. The Brit began to find her range, firing big serves and forehands, and finally held serve to open the second set—drawing a roar from the crowd.

Momentum began to shift, if only slightly. Boulter broke Bencic for the first time, leveling the set at 4-4 and showing the kind of straightforward, attacking tennis that has brought her success in the past. “I felt like she has such a unique playing style that it took me a moment to kind of adjust and get used to how she hits the ball. She takes so much time away, and it's unique in comparison to a lot of tennis players,” Boulter reflected after the match. “I felt like I was building pressure a lot in the second. I definitely had my chances. I don't think it was the cleanest match coming from my racquet. She ultimately was a class above me. I felt like I was in with a shot in the second and definitely could be playing out there in the third.”

Bencic, however, managed to steady herself. Despite a couple of tense moments—including a brief argument with her coach and a few edgy rallies—she broke again to lead 6-5 before serving out the match with a crunching drive volley. The win, sealed in 87 minutes, was a testament to Bencic’s poise and the hard work she’s put in since her return to the sport.

Indeed, Bencic’s journey over the past two years has been nothing short of remarkable. After giving birth to her daughter Bella in April 2024, she slipped outside the top 1000 in the rankings and played her first matches back at ITF level in October 2024. By the start of 2025, she had returned to tour-level competition, and her results have been nothing short of stunning. The Tokyo Olympic gold medallist is now back in the world’s top 10 for the first time since March 2023, a feat she attributes to relentless effort and a new perspective brought on by motherhood.

Speaking on court after the match, Bencic opened up about life on tour with a toddler in tow. “It’s definitely starting to become challenging, but I have to say, we enjoy it so much. I think the first year, last year, when we were travelling with Bella, was maybe a little bit easier, now she’s entered the toddler phase, so it’s a bit tough,” she said with a laugh. When asked for an example, she didn’t hesitate: “In the plane. It’s tough in the plane. And I’m sorry for everyone who travels on the same plane as us.” But she also emphasized the joys of balancing tennis and motherhood: “I have to say, it’s also much more fun. I think we are doing actually more things, we’re going to the zoo, we’re going to the aquarium. I think maybe I am enjoying more off the court and I am separating tennis maybe a little bit more.”

Her comeback has not gone unnoticed. “It means a lot. I don't think we realised yet, because we're like in between tournaments and you don't want to think about it too much, but I think it just really shows the hard work it took to get back and to have such a comeback that we did, and I really hope it doesn't end here,” Bencic told reporters. Her ambitions remain high, and with her current form, few would bet against her making a deep run in Melbourne.

For Boulter, there are positives to take despite the loss. She demonstrated resilience and flashes of the aggressive tennis that has propelled her into the world’s top 100 in the past. With Michael Joyce now guiding her, she’ll look to build on this performance in the coming months, aiming to string together more wins and climb back up the rankings. “There are some definite positives. But a lot to learn from,” she admitted, showing the mindset of a player determined to rebound.

The day also marked the end of the road for another British hopeful, Sonay Kartal, who fell to 31st seed Anna Kalinskaya 7-6, 6-1 in her own first-round match. That leaves Emma Raducanu as the last British female standing in the Australian Open draw, carrying the flag for her nation as the tournament heads into its second week.

As the sun set on Margaret Court Arena, it was Bencic who walked off with the win and a growing sense that her comeback story is far from over. For Boulter, the ovation from the crowd and the presence of her fiancé served as reminders that, even in defeat, there’s plenty of support—and perhaps, brighter days ahead.